Netflix has been making waves in the movie industry in the past several months. First paying $12 million to have worldwide rights to Beasts of No Nation then, shortly after that, they agreed to finance & distribute a movie starring Brad Pitt. Now they’re teaming up with Pitt’s production company Plan B to help with Bong Joon-ho’s new monster movie!
Last year, Bong’s Snowpiercer was a critical & commercial success worldwide but faced challenges in the US from its distributor, The Weinstein Company. Initially, studio head Harvey Weinstein wanted to cut 20 minutes from the film “so it can play in Iowa and Oklahoma” (real quote). Eventually all was settled & Snowpiercer got it’s full cut released here, just with a much smaller release.
For his next movie “Okja”, Bong had 2 requests, a huge budget & complete creative control. Now in comes Netflix & Pitt’s Plan B to the rescue. According to IndieWire, Netflix & Plan B will co-finance the movie & give Bong what he needs.
Below is a statement from director Bong Joon-ho:
“For ‘Okja,’ I needed a bigger budget than I had for ‘Snowpiercer’ and also complete creative freedom. Netflix offered me the two conditions that are difficult to have in hand simultaneously.”
Okja, a return to the monster film for Bong (who also directed The Host), stars Tilda Swinton, Jake Gyllenhaal, Paul Dano, Bill Nighy and Kelly MacDonald. As of right now, Brad Pitt is just producing through Plan B & does not plan on starring, but that can always change. Plot details are being kept under wraps & Bong hopes it’ll be ready in early 2017.
Source: IndieWire